Retaining System for Removably Retaining Portable Objects on a Carrier Object

ABSTRACT

A retaining system is provided for removably retaining portable objects to a carrier object. Three or more connection elements are defined on a base surface of the carrier object and spaced apart therealong. A flexible member is connectable to different ones of the connection elements to form a loop defined between the base surface and a portion of the flexible member spaced therefrom and extending between two connection elements to which the flexible member is connected. The ability to attach the flexible member to different ones of the connection elements facilitates adjustment of the position, orientation or dimension along the base surface of a loop or the number of loops defined by the flexible member for securing one or more portable objects to the carrier object.

OBJECTS ON A CARRIER OBJECT

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.119(e) of U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 60/866,632, filed Nov. 21, 2006.

This invention relates generally to a retaining system featuring a loopformed on a carrier object to retain a portable object thereon, and moreparticularly to a retaining system of this type wherein a flexiblemember is releasably connectable to different points on the carrierobject to change a dimension or position of the loop it defines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art to retain a portable object on a carrier objectby connecting a flexible member, such as a strap or cord, at two spacedapart points on a surface of the carrier object to form a loop definedbetween the surface and the flexible member through which the portableobject can be passed and then tightening the flexible member around theportable object to secure it against the surface of the carrier object.

The flexible member may be a two-piece strap in which each piece isconnected to the surface of the carrier object and the two pieces arejoined about the portable object, for example using a bucklearrangement, to close the loop. Using the buckle the change the point onone of the pieces where it connects to the other allows the loop to beexpanded or contracted to adjust for portable objects of differentsizes.

Alternatively, the flexible member may be an elastic strip or cordconnected to the surface of the carrier object at opposite ends. Theelasticity of the flexible member allows it to be stretched to allowlarger objects to be passed through the loop and provides automatictightening of the loop around such objects once passed therethrough. Anumber of loops may be formed using a single elastic strap or cord fixedto the surface of the carrier object at spaced intervals therealong.

In these prior art retaining systems, the flexible members are connectedto the carrier object at fixed points. The sizing of the loops ischanged by adjustment of the effective length of the flexible memberbetween the connection points, for example under stretching or resilingof an elastic member or by manual adjustment of a buckle mechanism.However, being connected to the carrier object at fixed points, adimension of the loop measured between these connection points along thesurface of the carrier object and a position of the loop on the surfaceof the carrier object cannot be adjusted.

As a result of this lack of loop adjustability, a prior art retainingsystem may be limited in the size of portable objects it can secure onthe carrier object or limited in the orientation or position in which aportable object may be secured. For example, although the carrier objectmay be of sufficient size and strength to support a relatively largeportable object, the portable object can only be secured to it if it hasone or more loops sufficiently expandable to fit around the portableobject.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided aretaining system for removably retaining portable objects on a carrierobject, the retaining system comprising:

a base surface on the carrier object;

first and second connection elements defined on the base surface andspaced apart therealong;

a flexible member being connected to the base surface at the firstconnection element and connectable to the second connection element toform a loop defined between the base surface and a portion of theflexible member spaced from the base surface and extending away from thefirst connection element toward the second connection element; and

a third connection element defined on the base surface and spaced fromeach of the first and second connection elements;

wherein the flexible member is releasably connectable to the secondconnection element to allow disconnection therefrom and releasableconnection to the third connection element.

Preferably a distance from the first connection element to the thirdconnection element and a distance from the first connection element tothe second connection element are unequal.

Preferably the flexible member is connectable to the first, second andthird connection elements to form an additional loop defined between thebase surface and a portion of the flexible member spaced from the basesurface and extending away from the second connection element toward thethird connection element.

Preferably the flexible member comprises an elastic member.

Preferably the flexible member comprises a stretchable member.

Preferably there is provided at least one additional connection element,the flexible member being releasably connectable to each of the second,third and at least one additional connection element.

The flexible member may be releasably connected to the first connectionelement. Alternatively, the flexible member may be fixed to the firstconnection element.

Preferably the first, second and third connection elements are disposedwithin a row of connection elements.

Preferably there is provided at least one additional row of connectionelements.

The flexible member may be connectable between connection elements ofdifferent rows.

There may be provided a respective flexible member for each row ofconnection elements.

Preferably each connection element is capable of connection to aplurality of flexible members.

Preferably at least one connection element to which the flexible memberis releasably connectable is defined by a connection member fixed to thebase surface to define a passage extending therealong through which theflexible member may be passed.

Preferably the at least one connection element comprises a strip ofmaterial having opposite ends fixed to the base surface with enoughslack between the opposite ends to allow passage of the flexible memberbetween the strip and the base surface.

Preferably a plurality of connection elements, to each of which theflexible member is releasably connectable, are defined by a longitudinalstrip of material extending along the base surface.

Preferably a further plurality of connection elements, to each of whichthe flexible member is releasably connectable, are defined by at leastone further longitudinal strip of material extending along the basesurface.

Preferably each longitudinal strip is fixed at spaced intervalstherealong to the base surface to define a plurality of sections, eachsection having enough slack between opposite fixed ends thereof to allowpassage of the flexible member between the strip and the base surface.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided aretaining system for removably retaining portable objects on a carrierobject, the retaining system comprising:

a base surface on the carrier object;

a plurality of exclusive or non-exclusive pairs of connection elementsdefined on the base surface, each pair comprising first and secondconnection elements spaced apart along the base surface; and

a flexible member being connectable to the first and second connectionelements of one pair of the plurality of pairs to form a loop definedbetween the base surface and a portion of the flexible member spacedfrom the base surface and extending away from the first connectionelement of the one pair toward the second connection element of the onepair;

wherein the flexible member is also connectable to the first and secondconnection elements of at least one other pair of the plurality of pairsto form a loop defined between the base surface and a portion of theflexible member spaced from the base surface and extending away from thefirst connection element of the one other pair toward the secondconnection element of the one other pair.

Preferably the pairs of connection elements are non-exclusive.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided aretaining system for removably retaining portable objects to a carrierobject, the retaining system comprising:

a base surface on the carrier object;

three or more connection elements defined on the base surface and spacedapart therealong; and

a flexible member being connectable to at least three of the three ormore connection elements to form a plurality of loops each definedbetween the base surface and a respective portion of the flexible memberspaced from the base surface and extending away from a first connectionelement of a respective non-exclusive pair of adjacent connectionelements to a second connection element of the respective non-exclusivepair of adjacent connection elements.

Preferably the pairs of connection elements are defined by a row ofconnection elements.

Preferably the pairs of connection elements are defined by rows andcolumns of connection elements.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided aretaining system for removably retaining portable objects on a carrierobject, the retaining system comprising:

a base surface on the carrier object;

a plurality of connection elements defined on the base surface to definea plurality of pairs of connection elements; and

a flexible member releasably connectable to each of the plurality ofconnection elements to facilitate connection of the flexible member toone of the plurality of pairs of connection elements, each pair of theplurality of pairs comprising first and second connection elementsspaced apart along the base surface and to which the flexible member isconnectable to form a loop defined between the base surface and aportion of the flexible member spaced from the base surface andextending away from the first connection element toward the secondconnection element.

Preferably there is provided a two-dimensional array of connectionelements defining the plurality of connection elements.

Preferably the plurality of connection elements are arranged in a row.

There may be provided additional rows each having a further plurality ofconnection elements and additional flexible members each correspondingto a respective one of the additional rows.

The flexible member may be fixed to the base surface at one end thereof.

Preferably the flexible member is connectable to more than one of thenonexclusive pairs to simultaneously define more than one loop.

Preferably a size of each loop is reducible and expandable by decreasingand increasing respectively a length of a shortest distance measuredfrom the first connection element to the second connection element alongthe portion of the loop spaced from the base surface.

Preferably the flexible member is resilient and increasing the size ofeach loop is expandable by stretching of the flexible member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodimentof the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding container in a partiallyopened position showing a retaining system according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overhead plan view of the folding container in a fullyopened position.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the folding container with aportable object disposed thereon and positioned to be secured to thefolding container by the retaining system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the folding container and portableobject as taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but with the portableobject having been secured to the folding container.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the folding container and portableobject as taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross section view similar to FIG. 3 but with a largerportable object disposed on the folding container and positioned to besecured thereto by the retaining system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 7 but with the largerportable object having been secured to the folding container.

FIG. 9 is an overhead plan view of a swatch of material having aretaining system according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention thereon.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view as taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a folding container 10 used to carry portable objects in acompartment defined between its two pivotally connected halves 12, 14when they are folded one over the other to close the container. Asexplained herein below, one half 14 of the container 10 features aretaining system in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

A center piece of material 16 of the one half 14 of the container 10defines a base surface 18 of the retaining system on the container, orcarrier, 10. A plurality of strips of webbing 20 are arranged to extendfully along the rectangular base surface 18 in parallel fashion, eachstrip 20 being sewn to each upturned end 16A, 16B of the center piece16. Each strip 20 is also sewn to the base surface 18 at equally spacedintervals along its length between the upturned ends 16A, 16B atopposite ends of the base surface 18, thereby dividing itself into aplurality of sections 26 each sewn to the base 18 at its opposite ends26A, 26B. Each section 26 of each strip 20 is provided with enough slackbetween its stitched ends 26A, 26B to form a small passage between thestrip and the base surface 18 so that an elastic cord 28 may be passedtherethrough. The strips 20 are each divided into the same number ofsections with the sections of each strip aligning with those of theother strips, resulting a rectangular array of sections.

In the figures, both ends 28A, 28B of each cord 28 have been fed througha respective spring-loaded cord lock 30 and tied together to form a knot32. The cord 28 thereby forms a closed loop on side of the cord lock 30opposite the knot 32. The spring-loaded cord lock 30 clamps the twohalves of the cord 28 together under the action of its spring. Pressingand holding a button end 30A of the cord lock 30 against a body 30B ofthereof acts to oppose the spring force and release the clamping actionso that the cord lock 30 may be slid along two halves of the cord 28away from the knot 32, after which release of the button will act toclamp the halves together at a further distance from the knot to reduceto size of the closed loop. Such cord locks are well known, and thus notexplained here in greater detail. The knot 32 acts to prevent the cordlock 30 from being inadvertently removed from the cord 28 by blockingsliding of the cord lock over the ends 28A, 28B of the cord.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cord 28 is installed by threading itthrough the passages between the strips 20 and base 18 as defined by anumber of the strip sections 26 before sliding the cord lock 30 over itsends 28A, 28B to clamp the cord into a closed loop. Each cord forms atleast one securing loop through which a portable object can be partiallypassed so that the securing loop can be tightened thereabout to securethe portable object to the container 10 by effectively clamping theportable object against the base 18. Cord 28′ shows how a cord may beused to form only a single securing loop equivalent to the loop closedby clamping of the cord by the cord lock, while cord 28 shows how a cordmay be used to cooperate with the base surface 18 to form one or moresecuring loops.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show cord 28 of FIG. 1 prepared for use to secure aportable object 34 on the container, or carrier, 10. From end 28A, thecord 28 weaves through a first row of strip sections 26 extending oversome sections and under others then changes direction and returns alongitself toward end 28B similarly weaving through a second row of stripsections 26. The portion of the cord extending from the cord lock 30through the first row of strip sections 26 forms a first half 28C of thecord's closed loop while the portion extending through the second row ofstrip sections 26 back to the cord lock 30 forms a second half 28D ofthe cord's closed loop. Between any adjacent ones of the sections 26under which the cord 28 passes is a portion 28E of the cord which can bepulled away from the base 18 as shown in FIG. 3 to create a securingloop forming an opening 36 between the cord 28 and the base 18 largeenough to receive the portable object 34. With the portable objectpositioned between the portion 28E of the cord having been pulled awayfrom the base 18 so as to extend away from a first section 26C of theadjacent ones of the sections under which the cord passes toward asecond section 26D thereof and the base, the ends 28A, 28B of the cordare pulled as shown by arrow 38 to lower the portion 28E of the corddown about the portable object 34 to clamp it against the base 18. Thepulling achieves this lowering of portion 28E by shortening its lengthi.e. reducing a distance measured along the cord 28 between the stripsections 26C and 26D acting as connection elements between the cord 28and the base 18. To prevent loosening of the portion 28E about theportable object 34, the cord lock button 30A is depressed and the cordlock 30 is pulled along the cord away from the knot 32, as indicated byarrow 40, to reduce the size of the loop formed by the two cord portions28C and 28D so that its length does not exceed that needed to completeits path through the strip sections and over the portable object. Theportable object 34 is shown in this secured state in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Although the cable 28 weaved through two rows in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 isshown as weaving within each row in an alternating fashion where thecable alternates over and under the strips 20 from one to the next, itshould be appreciated that a user has the option of choosing fromvarious weaving patterns in order to vary the number of possiblesecuring loops formed, the position of the securing loop(s) and thedistance between the two strip sections forming the connection elementswhere the cord connects to the base for each securing loop. The cordneed not necessarily be woven through two rows of strip sections, as itshould be appreciated that it may be woven through only one row ofsections, through sections of more than two rows or even throughsections defined on the same strip. Having any number of connectionpoints greater than two, the user has the option of forming a singlesecuring loop in different ways. For example, with three connectionelements the user has the option of forming a single securing loop byconnecting the cord to the first and second connection elements, to thesecond and third connection elements or two the first and thirdconnection elements. Depending on the relative spacing of the connectionelements, this will allow changing of at least one of the securingloop's position and its dimension measured between the connection pointsalong the base. Furthermore, the user would also have the additionaloption of connecting the cord to the base at all three connectionelements, thereby forming two separate securing loops. With the array ofstrip sections providing a significant large number of possible elementsfor connecting one or more cords to the base, the retaining system ofthe first embodiment has a high degree of configurability allowing theuser to choose any number of possible securing loop arrangements to suithis or her requirements.

FIG. 7 shows cord 28′ of FIG. 1 prepared for use to secure a largerportable object 42 on the container, or carrier, 10. Rather than beingweaved through a plurality of strip sections 26 to pass under thosedesirable for use as connection points and over others, one of the ends28′A, 28′B of cord 28′ is instead passed only under a plurality of stripsections 26 and then pulled back to the other end to have the cord lock30′ fit over the ends to form a loop. Here, this loop formed by theentire portion of the cord 28′ on the side of the cord lock 30′ oppositethe knot 32′ and the securing loop used to hold the portable object 42against the base 18 are one in the same. Here, the two end stripsections 26′C, 26′D in the series of strip sections beneath which thecord extends form the connection points defining the dimension of thesecuring loop measured along the base 18. To illustrate this point, itshould be appreciated that the cord 28′ could provide approximately thesame size loop if it passed over, rather than under, the strip sectionsdisposed between these end sections 26′C and 26′D. Unlike with cord 28,pulling of the cord ends 28′A and 28′B will not act to tighten thesecuring loop about the portable object 42. Instead, the securing loopis reduced in size by depressing and holding the button end 30′A of thecord lock 30′ and moving it along the cord 28′ away from the knot 32′,as shown by arrow 40′, to move the loop's closing point closer to theportable object 42 and releasing the button 30′A to reclamp the twohalves of the cord. The larger portable object 42 is shown in thissecured state in FIG. 8.

Like with cord 28, cord 28′ can be threaded in the array of stripsections using a variety of different connection points to provide loopsof varying positions or orientations or of varying dimensions measuredbetween their connection points along the base.

Although shown as part of a folding container 10 having to halves 12, 14pivotally connected to fold over one another and zip together alongmating edges to define a hollow compartment for storing portable goods,it should be appreciated that the retaining system of the firstembodiment may be used on any number of objects on which it may bedesirable to carry another object for transportation therewith. Whilenot limited to use on closable containers, the present invention may beespecially useful in such containers, for example back packs, suitcases,briefcases, travel kits or first aid cases.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a retaining system in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention. For ease of illustration, theretaining system of the second embodiment has been shown mounted on aswatch of material rather than on a particular carrier object. Asexplained for the first embodiment, the retaining system is notrestricted to use with a particular container or carrier type and may beapplied to any number of objects on which it may be desirable to secureanother object.

The swatch of material 116 defines a base surface 18 of the retainingsystem. A plurality of strips of webbing 120 are arranged to extendfully along the rectangular base surface 118 in parallel fahsion, eachstrip 120 being sewn to the base surface 118 at its ends 120A, 120B andat equally spaced intervals along its length between those ends, therebydividing itself into a plurality of sections 126 each sewn to the base118 at its opposite ends 126A, 126B. Each section 126 of each strip 120is provided with enough slack between its stitched ends 126A, 126B toform a small passage between the strip and the base surface 118 so thatan elastic strap 128 may be passed therethrough. The strips 120 are eachdivided into the same number of sections with the sections of each stripaligning with those of the other strips, resulting a rectangular arrayof sections.

Unlike the elastic cords of the first embodiment, the elastic straps 128are not entirely removable from the base 118, but instead are sewnthereto proximate one end 128A. Each elastic strap 128 corresponds to arespective row of strip sections in the array and has a free end 128Bthat can be extended along the respective row from the fixed end 128A ona first side of the parallel strips 120 to a respective releasablefastener, such as a clamping buckle 130. Like in the first embodiment,selecting which of the strip sections 126 to pass each elastic strap 128under and which of the strip sections to pass the elastic strap overallows a user to choose how many securing loops are formed by theelastic strap, the position of such loops and a dimension of such a loopmeasured along the base 118 between connection points at which theelastic strap connects to the base.

FIG. 10 shows one elastic strap 128 having been passed under one stripsection of each of the outermost strips to form first and secondconnection points 126C and 126D and passed over each of the other stripstherebetween. The loop forms an opening 136 between the base 118 and aportion 128E of the elastic strap spaced from the base 118 and extendingaway from the first connection point 126C and toward the secondconnection point 126D. The portable object to be secured is received inthe opening 136 and the free end 128B of the elastic strap 128 is pulledthrough the buckle 130 to the lower the strap portion 128E to tightenagainst the portable object to secure it against the base 118 before theelastic strap is clamped by the buckle 130 to hold it in place. Theother elastic straps of FIG. 9 illustrate that the use of differentstrips to provide connection points facilitates change in the number andposition of connection points, thereby allowing securing loops ofvarying number, size (i.e. dimension measured between a loops twoconnection points along the base) and position. It should be appreciatedthat the fixed end 128A and the buckle 130 for each elastic strap 128may also be used as connection points to define a loop between the fixedend and a strip section, between the buckle and a strip section orbetween the fixed end and the buckle.

As shown by the unbuckled elastic strap second from the bottom of FIG.9, in addition to the elasticity of the strap allowing for stretchingthereof to accommodate objects between the strap and the base, thestraps may be made to have excessive length to accommodate relativelylarge objects with the buckles 130 being capable taking up some of theexcessive length when smaller objects are being secured.

It should be appreciated that the fixing of one end of the elasticstraps of the second embodiment does not necessarily mean that eachstrap is only extendable along a respective row of potential connectionpoints, as a strap of sufficient length surely may be passed beneathstrip sections of different rows before being attached to one of thefasteners on the side of the strips opposite the fixed end.

It should be appreciated that the flexible members used to define thesecuring loops need not be elastic to facilitate the selectiveconfiguration of securing loops described above, nor do the connectionpoints have to be defined by strips of material like the webbing dividedinto sections as described above. For example, unstretchable straps maybe used with other releasable connectors such as buckles capable ofconnection to each strap at different points therealong to expansion andcontraction of the loop to accommodate and tighten around portableobjects. However, the use of webbing provides strong connection pointshaving significant resistance to wear, allows connection points to beclosely packed together in an array structure (i.e. the strips can beplaced immediately adjacent one another and the connection elementdefined by each strip section can have more than one flexible memberpassed thereunder, thereby providing more than one connection point),and results in relatively low consumption of space extending away fromthe base.

While a two-dimensional array of connection elements is not necessary toallow selective configuration by a user, as only three connectionelements with at least two being releasably connectable to the flexiblemember will provide multiple non-exclusive pairs of connection points,it increases the number of possible securing loop orientations,positions and sizes in a limited area. By non-exclusive pairs, it ismeant that defining a connection point of one pair does not necessarilyexclude a connection element from also defining a connection point ofanother pair.

As illustrated by the cords and straps of the illustrated embodiments,regardless of the mechanism used to tighten the securing loop about theportable object (pulling of the flexible member, repositioning aclamping device therelong, or automatic contraction provided bypost-stretching resiling of an elastic material) the contraction of thesecuring loop is achieved by decreasing a length of a shortest distancemeasured along the portion of the loop spaced from the base andextending away from the first connection element toward the secondconnection element. Expanding the loop to accommodate a portable objectis similarly achieved by increasing the length of this shortest distancemeasured along the indicated portion.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein abovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without department from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

1. A retaining system for removably retaining portable objects on acarrier object, the retaining system comprising: a base surface on thecarrier object; first and second connection elements defined on the basesurface and spaced apart therealong; a flexible member being connectedto the base surface at the first connection element and connectable tothe second connection element to form a loop defined between the basesurface and a portion of the flexible member spaced from the basesurface and extending away from the first connection element toward thesecond connection element; and a third connection element defined on thebase surface and spaced from each of the first and second connectionelements; wherein the flexible member is releasably connectable to thesecond connection element to allow disconnection therefrom andreleasable connection to the third connection element.
 2. The retainingsystem according to claim 1 wherein a distance from the first connectionelement to the third connection element and a distance from the firstconnection element to the second connection element are unequal.
 3. Theretaining system according to claim 1 wherein the flexible member isconnectable to the first, second and third connection elements to forman additional loop defined between the base surface and a portion of theflexible member spaced from the base surface and extending away from thesecond connection element toward the third connection element.
 4. Theretaining system according to claim 1 further comprising at least oneadditional connection element, the flexible member being releasablyconnectable to each of the second, third and at least one additionalconnection element.
 5. The retaining system according to claim 1 whereinthe flexible member is releasably connected to the first connectionelement.
 6. The retaining system according to claim 1 wherein theflexible member is fixed to the first connection element.
 7. Theretaining system according to claim 1 wherein the first, second andthird connection elements are disposed within at least one row ofconnection elements.
 8. The retaining system according to claim 7wherein the flexible member is connectable between connection elementsof different rows.
 9. The retaining system according to claim 8 whereina respective flexible member is provided for each row of connectionelements.
 10. The retaining system according to claim 1 wherein eachconnection element is capable of connection to a plurality of flexiblemembers.
 11. The retaining system according to claim 1 wherein at leastone connection element to which the flexible member is releasablyconnectable is defined by a connection member fixed to the base surfaceto define a passage extending therealong through which the flexiblemember may be passed.
 12. The retaining system according to claim 11wherein the a least one connection element comprises a strip of materialhaving opposite ends fixed to the base surface with enough slack betweenthe opposite ends to allow passage of the flexible member between thestrip and the base surface.
 13. The retaining system according to claim1 wherein a plurality of connection elements, to each of which theflexible member is releasably connectable, are defined by a longitudinalstrip of material extending along the base surface, the longitudinalstrip being fixed at spaced intervals therealong to the base surface todefine a plurality of sections, each section having enough slack betweenopposite fixed ends thereof to allow passage of the flexible memberbetween the strip and the base surface.
 14. The retaining systemaccording to claim 1 wherein a size of the loop is reducible andexpandable by decreasing and increasing respectively a length of ashortest distance measured from the first connection element to thesecond connection element along the portion of the loop spaced from thebase surface.
 15. The retaining system according to claim 30 wherein theflexible member is resilient and increasing the size of each loop isachievable by stretching of the flexible member.
 16. A retaining systemfor removably retaining portable objects on a carrier object, theretaining system comprising: a base surface on the carrier object; aplurality of exclusive or non-exclusive pairs of connection elementsdefined on the base surface, each pair comprising first and secondconnection elements spaced apart along the base surface; and a flexiblemember being connectable to the first and second connection elements ofone pair of the plurality of pairs to form a loop defined between thebase surface and a portion of the flexible member spaced from the basesurface and extending away from the first connection element of the onepair toward the second connection element of the one pair; wherein theflexible member is also connectable to the first and second connectionelements of at least one other pair of the plurality of pairs to form aloop defined between the base surface and a portion of the flexiblemember spaced from the base surface and extending away from the firstconnection element of the one other pair toward the second connectionelement of the one other pair.
 17. The retaining system according toclaim 16 wherein a plurality of connection elements define the pluralityof pairs, the flexible member being releasably connectable to each ofthe plurality of connection elements.
 18. The retaining system accordingto claim 16 wherein the pairs of connection elements are defined by atleast row of connection elements.
 19. A retaining system for removablyretaining portable objects to a carrier object, the retaining systemcomprising: a base surface on the carrier object; three or moreconnection elements defined on the base surface and spaced aparttherealong; and a flexible member being connectable to at least three ofthe three or more connection elements to form a plurality of loops eachdefined between the base surface and a respective portion of theflexible member spaced from the base surface and extending away from afirst connection element of a respective non-exclusive pair of adjacentconnection elements to a second connection element of the respectivenon-exclusive pair of adjacent connection elements.
 20. The retainingsystem according to claim 19 wherein the pairs of connection elementsare defined by at least row of connection elements.